Garment marking machine



Dec. 17, 1963 P. N. BRAUN ETAL GARMENT MARKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 50.1961 104 INVENTORS JOHN F. FILSINGER,

PHILIP N. BRAUN, B 19.

THEIR ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,114,867 GARMENT MARKING MACHINE Philip N. Braunand John F. Filsinger, Syracuse, N.Y., assignors to Tag-O-Matic MachineCo., Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 30,1961, Ser. No. 85,899 2 Claims. (Cl. 156-384) This invention relates toa power operated garment marking machine of the type whereinidentification indicia is afiixed to garments which are to be processedas by laundering or dry cleaning. The identification indicia is utilizedto correctly identify all of the garments of a particular bundle uponcompletion of the processing so as to prevent any garments of a bundlefrom being lost or separated.

Such machines of the type referred to are shown and disclosed in myproir Patents No. 2,742,828, issued April 24, 1956, and No. 2,825,480,issued March 4, 1958. Patent 2,742,828 discloses a garment markingmachine for attaching identification indicia to garments, or the like,by stapling while Patent 2,825,480 discloses a machine for attachingidentification indicia to garments, or the like, by heat sealing.

With each machine, however, it is essential that all of the garments ofone bundle be marked with the same number or numbers and that theinvoice therefor also be marked with this number. In addition, it isimperative that the garments of the next bundle to be marked be markedwith a diiferent number. Operators of the ma chines disclosed in thepatents, however, often-times inadvertently fail to change theidentification indicia printed on the identification tag by the machinesshown in the patents with the result that garments of different bundles,i.e., belonging to different customers, are sometimes marked with thesame number. As will be obvious, this causes delivery of the wronggarments to the wrong customer, resulting in a great deal of customerdissatisfaction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a garmentmarking machine of the type referred to which operates to prevent errorsin the marking of the garments of different bundles.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide amachine of the type referred to wherein the power to the machine isdisconnected from the machine when the operator completes the marking ofthe garments of a given bundle and the power cannot be restored unlessand until the operator has set the machine so as to imprint theidentification tags with different identification indicia.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

In the drawings- FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one embodimentof the invention with parts broken away, and parts omitted for purposesof clarity, and

FIGURE 2 is a circuit diagram for operating the machine shown in FIGURE1.

As will be obvious, the invention of this application may be utilizedwith either of the machines shown in Patents 2,742,828 or 2,825,480. Inboth of the machines shown in those patents, a tape feed is provided andthe machine operates when a garment is draped over the garment arm andmoved forwardly, to first feed the tape to a printing station where thetag forming portion of the tape is imprinted with the identificationindicia which may be a number and/ or letters, and from thence theimprinted portion is fed to the tag affixing station where the im-3,114,667 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 "ice printed portion is affixed to thegarment either by heat sealing or by stapling and then severed from thetape. In such machines, power assist means are provided for the printingarm and the garment arm so as to insure the proper printing of the tagand the proper afiixing of the tag to the garment.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a machine of either the heat sealing or staplingtype is shown wherein the tape supply is indicated by the referencenumeral 10 and the tape 12 passes around a guide post 14 and through a.feed mechanism generally indicated by the reference numeral 16. Theprinting arm 18 is shown in its position just prior to imprinting a tagwith the identification number and the garment arm 20 is shown with agarment 22 draped thereover, with the arm 20 in a position intermediateits travel from the rest position toward the tag aflixing mechanism.

The means for forming the type line to print the tag forming portion ofthe tape 12 may comprise a plurality of type segment wheels, generallyindicated by the reference numeral 24, and these wheels may be of theconstruction and operate in the manner more particularly shown anddescribed in Patent 2,598,438, issued May 27, 1952. The wheels 24 areformed with handle portions 26 which project upwardly through the topcover 28 of the machine in order to permit the operator to manually setthe wheels in order to give the desired identification indicia.

The side wall 30 of the machine is shown as being provided with a clipboard 32 which is supported on the side wall 30 by means of the flange34 and the brace members 36 and 38 which are affixed to the side and topsurfaces, respectively, of a cylindrical housing 40 mounted on the sidewall 30 of the machine. The board 32 is pro vided with a spring mountedclip 42 pivotally connected to the board as at 44 to permit the operatorto removably affix an invoice on the surface of the board 32.

A microswitch 46 is mounted on a bracket 47 aflixed by any suitablemeans to the underside of the board 32 and the switch arm 48 of themicroswitch is positioned in the path of movement of an L-shaped arm 50affixed to the underside of the clip 42 whereby upon movement of theclip 42, the switch 46 is actuated. This acts in a manner which will bemore fully described hereinafter to interrupt the power supply to theprint arm 18 and the garment arm 20. Accordingly, when the operator ofthe machine has marked all of the garments of a bundle with a givenidentification series and then removes the invoice accompanying thebundle from the board 32, the power is interrupted to the machine andthe operator cannot mark the garments of the next bundle with the sameidentification series.

Because of the power interruption just described, the operator isreminded to set the outside type segment wheel 24 to the next successiveidentification number so as to mark the garments of the next bundle witha new bundle number. In performing this operation, the power to themachine is restored in order to permit the garments of the next bundleto be marked. This is brought about in the following manner. As seen tothe right of FIGURE 1, wherein the side wall 30 has been broken away,the rear segment 52 of the type wheel 24 is provided with a plurality ofteeth 54. A detent mechanism comprising a roller 56 is carried by adetent arm 58 which is pivotally mounted as at 60 on a bracket 62mounted on the rear wall of the machine and the roller 56 will cause thearm 58 to be oscillated slightly as the wheel 24 is moved to a newposition. As shown in the figure, a tension spring 64 is affixed to thearm 58 below the pivot point 60 and to the rear wall of the machine inorder to yieldably urge the roller 56 into engagement with a notchformed by a pair of teeth 54 in the segment 52 thereby properly locatingand holding the type wheel 24 into position to form a print line incombination with the other type wheels, as more particularly describedin Patent 2,598,438. The lower end of the arm 58 is positioned to engagethe switch arm 66' of a microswitch 68 so as to cause an actuation ofthe switch 68 each time the wheel 24 is moved to a new position. Thisactuation of switch 68 will restore the power to permit the garments ofthe next bundle to be marked by the operator.

In the event that the operator wishes to mark the invoice with the samenumber as the garments of a bundle, the invoice may be so marked afterit has been removed from the board 32 by means of an auxiliary switchmeans for restoring power to the machine prior to the movement of thewheel 24. This auxiliary switch is indicated by the reference numeral 70and is carried by the side wall 30 of the machine and .has an armature72. An actuating link 74 is connected to the side wall 30 for limitedreciprocating movement by means of the pins 76 which are received in theelongated slots 78. A tension spring 80 is affixed at one end to a pin82 on the link 74 and at its opposite end to one of the pins 76 carriedby the side wall 30 and projecting through the slot 78 whereby the link74 is urged outwardly. By circuitry to be hereinafter more particularlydescribed, when the operator depresses the link 74, the switch 70 isactuated and power is restored to the machine as long as the operatorholds the link 74 in its innermost position. This permits the invoice tobe marked with the same number as the garments of a bundle and/orpermits errors to be corrected. However, as soon as the operatorreleases the link 74, the spring 80 returns to its outermost positionagain interrupting the power supplying the machine, thus, rendering itinoperative until the operator sets the wheel 24 to a new position.

The circuit for operating the machine is shown in FIGURE 2 and has apower supply comprising a hot line 84 and a common or return line 86, amain switch 88 is connected in the hot line 84 and is normally closed bythe operator at the commencement of a days work to render the machineoperative. The line 84 is connected by the line 90 to one side of thecoil 92 of a relay 94. The opposite side of the coil 92 is connected byline 96 to one side of the normally closed segment operated switch 68,the other side of which is connected by line 98 to one of the fixedcontacts 100 of the relay '94. The other fixed contact 102 of the relayis connected by line 104 to the controls for the print arm and thegarment arm of the machine, generally indicated by the box 106. Thearmature 108 of the relay 94 is normally in engagement with the fixedcontact 102, as is indicated by the solid line position of the armature.The armature 108 is connected to the return line 86 whereby a main powercircuit is completed from the hot side 84 of the power supply throughthe main switch 88, controls 106, line 104-, fixed contact 102 andarmature 108 to the common or return line thereby providing power forthe controls to operate the machine in a normal manner.

Line 110 is connected from the lower side of the coil 92 of relay 84 toone side of the normally open switch 46 and the opposite side of thisswitch is connected by line 1112 to the common line 86. Therefore, aswill be obvious when the invoice switch is actuated by depressing theclip 42 on the invoice board 32, the switch is momentarily moved to thedashed line position wherein the relay coil 92 is energized to lTllO'V6the armature '108 to the dashed line position thereby interrupting themain power circuit previously described for providing power to thecontrols 106. The momentary closure of switch 46 causes the armature 108to move to the dashed line position, as just described, and the armature108 is maintained in this position through the holding circuitcomprising line 90, coil 92, line '96, normally closed segment switch68, line 98, fixed contact 100, armature 108, and the common line 86.Accordingly, even though the switch 46 is immediately returned to itsopen position when the clip 42 is 4 released, the power has beeninterrupted and will remain off to the controls 106 by reason of theholding circuit just described.

Thereafter when the operator moves the wheel 24 to a new position, thenormally closed segment switch 68 will be momentarily open, thus,breaking the holding circuit and de-energizing the coil '92 to returnthe armature 108 to its upper position thereby restoring the main powercircuit which provides the power for the controls 106.

Should the operator, however, desire to provide power to the controls106 to mark the invoice or to correct any errors before setting thewheel 24 to a new position after the power circuit through the armature108 has been broken by depressing the invoice board clip 42, aspreviously described, the auxiliary switch 70 may be actuated to connectthe power supply to the controls 106 through an auxiliary power circuitcomprising line 114 which is connected to the line 104 and to thecontrols 106 which are connected at their opposite side through the mainswitch 88 to the hot side 84 of the power supply. The line 114 is alsoconnected to one side of the switch 70 and the opposite side of theswitch is connected by line 116 to the common return line 86 wherebywhen the switch 70 is moved to the closed position, the armature 108,which is in the dashed line position, is by-passed and as long as theswitch 70 is held closed, the water is supplied to the controls 106.When the switch 70 is released, however, the auxiliary power circuitjust described is broken and it is necessary to set the wheel 24 to anew position in order to restore the power supply to the controlsthrough the main power circuit in the manner previously described.

In the machine disclosed in Patent 2,825,480, the tags are heat sealedto the garment. As is set forth in that patent, the tag and garment areurged together against a heated iron for a predetermined time, known asthe dwell and under a predetermined pressure in order to insure theproper afiixing of the tag to the garment. In connection with thatmachine, the actuating link 74 for the alntiliary switch 70 may beprovided with a mechanical interlock arrangement whereby when the link74 is depressed to actuate the switch 70, the interlock will operate tohold the link 74 in the depressed position with the switch 70 closeduntil the power assist means on the garment arm 20 is returned to therest position. The return movement of the garment arm may be utilized torelease the interlock means whereby the switch 70 will be opened toagain interrupt the power to the printing arm and the garment arm untilthe wheel 24 has been moved to a new position. Such a construction orarrangement is contemplated by applicants invention and is within thescope of the appended claims.

As will be obvious, the machine, therefore, is so arranged andconstructed as to render it foolproof so as to prevent the operatorthereof from marking the garments of one bundle with the sameidentification indicia which has been applied to garments of a diiferentbundle.

What we claim is:

l. A garment marking machine for affixing identification indicia togarments, or the like, comprising a tape supply, feed means for feedingsaid tape to a printing station, a plurality of type segment wheelsmovable through a plurality of positions to form a type line at saidprinting station and electrically operated power means for imprinting atag forming portion of said tape presented at said station withidentification indicia, a tag atfixing station, said feed means beingoperable to present an imprinted tag forming portion at said tagafiixing station, tag afiixing means including a garment supporting armand electrically operated power assist means operable upon movement ofsaid garment arm for afiixing said imprinted tag forming portion to agarment supported on said arm and severing said tag portion from saidtape, said machine having a platform, fastening means movable toward andfrom said platform for atfixing and releasing an ower-o erated means,switch means 0 erable u on movement of said fastening means for releaseof an invoice to energize said relay, a hold circuit for said relayincluding a normally closed switch, said switch being opened uponmovement of one of said type segment wheels to a next successiveposition to deenergize said 10 relay.

2. The garment making machine of claim 1, wherein said machine isprovided with auxiliary switch means manually operable to connect saidpower-operated means and said power-assist means to said power circuitwithout movement of said type segment wheel after said fastening meanshas been moved for release of an invoice.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,821,122 Long Jan. 28, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3,114,667 December 17, 1963 Philip N. Braun et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 3, line 59, for "84" read 94 column 4, line 26 for "water" readpower Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A GARMENT MARKING MACHINE FOR AFFIXING IDENTIFICATION INDICIA TOGARMENTS, OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A TAPE SUPPLY, FEED MEANS FOR FEEDINGSAID TAPE TO A PRINTING STATION, A PLURALITY OF TYPE SEGMENT WHEELSMOVABLE THROUGH A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS TO FORM A TYPE LINE AT SAIDPRINTING STATION AND ELECTRICALLY OPERATED POWER MEANS FOR IMPRINTING ATAG FORMING PORTION OF SAID TAPE PRESENTED AT SAID STATION WITHIDENTIFICATION INDICIA, A TAG AFFIXING STATION, SAID FEED MEANS BEINGOPERABLE TO PRESENT AN IMPRINTED TAG FORMING PORTION AT SAID TAGAFFIXING STATION, TAG AFFIXING MEANS INCLUDING A GARMENT SUPPORTING ARMAND ELECTRICALLY OPERATED POWER ASSIST MEANS OPERABLE UPON MOVEMENT OFSAID GARMENT ARM FOR AFFIXING SAID IMPRINTED TAG FORMING PORTION TO AGARMENT SUPPORTED ON SAID ARM AND SEVFERING SAID TAGB PORTION FORM SAIDTAPE, SAID MA-